Device for teaching arithmetic



1931- F. o. PHAGANS 1,829,295

DEVICE FOR TEACHING ARITHMETIC Filed Aug. 27. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 @7 Inventor J70. Pka aiw A ttor r zey Oct. 27, 1931. o PHAGANS 1,829,295

DEVICE FOR TEACHING ARITHMETIC Filed Aug. 27, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Inventor .7? 0. j /Zdjdil' By imam/62% A itorney Oct. 27, 1931.

F. O. PHAGANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jfd fiza aiza A itomey Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES;

FLOYD OTIS PHAGANS, RYAN, OKLAHOMA DEVICE FOR TEACHING ARITHMETIG Application filed August 27, 1929. Serial No. 388,740.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices especially adapted for teachersin teaching arithmetic to beginners. The primary object of the invention is in the provision of a portable and handy device especially applicable for use in teaching young children the intricacies of arithmetic, I V such as the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a device of this character, wherein simple and easy problems in arithmetic are presented, together with the correct answer to the problem, the device further embodying means whereby the beginner may readily ascertain whether or not he has the correct answer to the problem.

A still further object of the invention is to 29 provide a device of this character, which is simple in construction, capable of easy operation, absolutely accurate, eflicient, strong and durable, thoroughly reliable in use,consisting'of but few parts, rendering the device capable of being easily and readily assembled and otherwise well adapted for the purpose designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

' wherein: 1

' Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device;

Figurev 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an edge elevation.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of thedevice.

Figure 5i's a front elevation of the sums carrying disc.

Figure 6 is asimilar view of the problem carrying disc.

Figure-7 is a rear elevation of the problem carrying disc. I I

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the sum carrying disc..

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail view for the purpose of better illustrating the operation of the device. f With reference more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that the invention comprises a pair of parallel plates, which, for the sake of clarity may be designated as the front plate 5 and the rear plate 6.

With but a fewexceptions to be herein noted, the plates are of substantially identical construction. Thus the plates are of somewhat elongated construction having a decided taper at one end. Formed in the plates are the registered longitudinally extending slots 7 and 8 respectively, adapted to register one with the other. The plate 5 is provided at the upper and lower ends of the slots 7 with somewhat circular depressions forming end seats 9, while intermediate the ends, and on opposite sides of the slots the plate is. further depressed in a somewhat arcuate manner to provide an intermediate seat 9'. Slidably and rotatably mounted between the opposed enlarged portions of the plate is a relatively large problem frame disc 10. Extending through the disc 10 and having its opposite ends slidable in the respective slots 7 and 8 is a suitable pin 11, adapted tov be selectively seated in the seats 9 and 9. Obviously, bysliding the pin 11 longitudi- I nally in the slot, the disc 10 willbe slid longitudinally between the plates. Disposed between the smaller opposed end portions of the plate is a rotatable sum carrying disc 12. This disc 12 is adapted for rotation only. The disc 12 is pivoted between the plates as at 13 and the upper marginal edges of the disc 12 is adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the adjacent marginal edge portion of the relatively larger disc 10. The relatively larger disc 10 on the front face thereof is provided with a plurality, of radially disposed columns of numbers designated generally by the reference character 14. As shown the columns of numbers are 1 preferably arranged in circular rows, there being three of such rows, an outer row, an intermediate row, and an inner row. The columns of numbers 14; are adapted, upon rotation of the disc to register with a suitable sight opening 15, formed in the front plate 5, in spaced relation. to one end of the slot 7 andin longitudinal alignment with the slot. Obviously any predetermined column of numbers may be brought into registry with the sight opening as desired by the operator and through the rotation of the disc 10. Likewise, therespective rows may be so positioned as to have their columns so regis ter with the sight openings 15 by'placing" the pin 11 in any predetermined seat. In

other words,v iifthe pin 11is ina seat 9, at

the upper,.;end ;@f;;the.-s10t;7, gobviouslyuupon rotation of the disc 10, the columns in the outer ro'w will register with the sight opening; To place the head -"of*pi n 11" i-n-any one of the seats, all that wismnecessary. is to. merely exert pressure with the-thumb of'th'e" hand against the head of-the pin for urging 7 platesso; thatqthe marginal ,edgo'of fthehead of the pin will beymoyed 'intothe; depression fonminga eeseat 2 Likewise on -,-it s;:outer -face,; the relativelysmal-l disc 12; iss-provided, adjacent its: pe-

ripheny with j-a; circular row; of numbers; 16;;

Each of: the numberslfirepre'sents a} sum of; a predetermined, number pt figures 14s, Thus theqnumbers 16: maybe hereinaftenreferredto as-the sum: On the front-facet), therieis' pnovided,'-,di rectly beneath the sight open-v ing15, and in alignmenttherewith, a rela= tively-lsmaller; sight opening v17-, with which any predeterminedsurn 16;is adaptedfto register upon rotations of thee-disci 12;, as is 1 ob viousyv Thusj,;it;willbeseen that it itiis desired :"coi present a certain problem in the sight p ,ning 15 the disc 10 is-rotated so that the column bearing that problem will be brought into registryqwithrthe sight Opening v 15,; i As shown in Figure :1, that column-bearinggthe numbers and dis ,the desired prof blem and it is for the 'pupil to determine" whichmumberlfi on :ltheqdi sc 12', represents,

- theisum vofthe numbers 7 (and 8, whereuponthe. 7 disc, 12; will be rotated, in order to bring that-.centain number 16, which. the pupil Yin-i tends to represent the sum =0t..the problemin registrywith theg'sight' opening- 17, ;and: in this case .the of the 3 problem being a 8, ,the disc is (rotated; so, that the..-numeral 8, is

" brought 'intoI registry with v the; sight 1 op ens I mgr- 17 V the predetermined:problem or column 14 1s brought into fregistry withithe sight opening" Inorder ion whether onnot the sum S is ,the correctansWertothe problem there .siS T provided,., a plurality :of

radially. d sposed indicating? ym o s-{iridh cated. generally the reference. character 18 These, symbols), 18 v are arranged ;i n circulali rows. OmQW Iat slm larto the rows of the co umn t ev e ngs ymb l 9 each of the columns to designate that particular coli'nnn. 7 Consequently the rear ffQCG is provided with; a sighto'pen-ing i9 whi'chopening-l9 is substantially in alignment; --with thesight opening 15; Thus it will beseen that when 15; the --symbol 5'indicating that column will simultaneously be brought into registry with the sight opening 19. Likewise, for each of the numbers or sum 16 on the disc 12, the discis provided on its opposite face with a plurality of circularlyarranged sum indi- -with the sightopening 17 the symbol denotingithatspecificsum will be brought into registry with the sight opening 21. In

H g rorderithat thepnpilmay determine whether the pin transversely through the slots in the or not tliesum chosen is the correct sum or answer to thetproblemi; the syinbolflO: of ffthe sum will correspondiwithithevsymbol of: the column or problem,- to; 'whic'hjheasumzdesig:

the problem which isthe nunrcral 8 will 7 have as its symbol the letter: R: also," so that consequently, if the correct sumior: answerato the problemris brought into registry withthe sight opening 17', the symbol otthatrsum registering withithe sight opening-21. will correspond with'thesymbol disposed to'view through the sightiopeningr 19-. a

It is believed that froma studyofth'erforegoingi=descriptioni, taken in connection? with the accompanying drawings; a clean under standing otthe operation of the device: ;will be had; 'and'iit is to be: understood-thatial though Ijhave shown the device as being applicable for teaching addition,- it is obvious that th e-same method utilized herein: for pre senting problems and their correct: answers may be also used for teaching subtraction:

division; multiplication and similar formsofarithmetic: q

1 Even though I h'avehereinshown and de scribed: the v prezterredembodiment'of my -in vention, it is to be understood that the-same is susceptible to changes fully comprelfended c by thespirit of theinvention, as herein described andthe scope of the-appended claims.

What is claimedis:

1 1. 2111 a device of the classdescrihei n elongated plate.- a relativelylargedisc rotat able and 'slid'able-on the 5 plate 'adfi acent one end of the plate, a relatively smaller disoro tatahleon'the plate adjacent'theiother end of the plate, th e first mentioned disclhaving a plurality of colum'ns'o'f numbers radially disposed thereon, the columns being ar ranged in annular rows" the. second mene ,tioned' disc having thetotal of'the-respective columns arranged thereon ma circular mam ner. said plate beingprovidedwitha pair of sight openings, said I first? mentioned disc being adapted "for --rotationi for "selectiyely through one of said openings, a predetermined column of numbers on said disc and by sliding the disc a column in any one of the rows can be brought opposite the window or opening, and said second mentioned disc adapted to be rotated for selectively displaying certain of the totals thereon to view, through the other of said openings, and identifying means on the respective discs for indicating whether or not the number displayed is the total for the column of numbers displayed through the first mentioned opening. 1 2. An educational device comprising a rotatable disc having a plurality of columns of numbers radially disposed thereon, said columns being arranged in annular rows, a second rotatable disc having the total of the respective columns arranged thereon, said first mentioned disc having radially disposed thereon respective differing identifying symbols for each of said columns, said second disc having arranged thereon an identifying symbol for each of the totals corresponding to the identifying symbol of a predetermined column of the first disc, whereby the total of any one of the columns may be ascertained, a cover member arranged in front of the discs and having windows therein, one of which will expose a column of numbers on the first disc and the other of which will expose a symbol on the other disc, said first disc being slidable towards and away from the second disc to bring any one of the rows of columns to a position to expose one of the columns in said row through'the column exposing window.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FLOYD OTIS PHAGANS.

displaying to view, 

